When George first introduced the Sitar into western music on 'Rubber Soul', I knew the direction of the band was going to change. George really started having a major impact in the group. I first heard indian music when I saw 'HELP' in the theater back in 1965 and fell in love with the sound.

I am so happy he continued to use this instrument in other songs as well and I remember when I first heard 'When We Was Fab' and he had the Sitar at the end I thought that was so awesome. The one thing I liked about George is he stood his ground on what he believed and never wavered from it. He fell in love with Indian music in 1965 and kept his faith and inspiration until his death which I truly admire.

The further one travels, the less one knows

18 May 20118.08pm

mr. Sun king coming together

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My Problem measuring his talent is I don't know what makes great sitar work. Although I didn't like his 3 Indian songs for a long time, I have now come around (Thanks to Von.)

As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

18 May 20119.11pm

Inner Light

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George never was a great Sitar player but he was innovative enough to incorporate into the Beatles music. Ravi Shankar used to say that George was dedicated to learning and that it was a hard instrument for him. I have to admit, the Sitar is difficult. I have not been able to put enough time into my own playing but hopefully with a lot of practice I will continue to learn more.

One thing for sure, when I'm not playing it, I have it up in a corner with a picture of the Taj Mahal above it. I just love to look at it.

The further one travels, the less one knows

19 May 20117.59am

McLennonSon

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mr. Sun king coming together said:

My Problem measuring his talent is I don't know what makes great sitar work. Although I didn't like his 3 Indian songs for a long time, I have now come around (Thanks to Von.)

That's great!!!

Inner Light said:

George never was a great Sitar player but he was innovative enough to incorporate into the Beatles music. Ravi Shankar used to say that George was dedicated to learning and that it was a hard instrument for him. I have to admit, the Sitar is difficult. I have not been able to put enough time into my own playing but hopefully with a lot of practice I will continue to learn more.

One thing for sure, when I'm not playing it, I have it up in a corner with a picture of the Taj Mahal above it. I just love to look at it.

I love his playing on the Wilbury track "The Devil's Been Busy". It really makes the song work for me.

==> trcanberra and hongkonglady - Together even when not (married for those not in the know!) <==

6 May 201510.47pm

BenniChann

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I don't really Have references (;_;) but is was about the story of Ravi Shankar being the 5th Beatle, was he the one that plays the Sitar in "Within You Without You" or "Love You To"? or was it Ravi?

Yours Truly

Billy Shears

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6 May 201511.03pm

Von Bontee

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It does seem to be generally accepted by a lot of people that the sitar player on "Love You To" was someone other than George, someone with much more experience. Not Ravi, however. Weren't the musicians recruited from the Indian Music Society of London or something?

One day, a tape-op got a tape on backwards, he went to play it, and it was all "Neeeradno-undowarrroom" and it was "Wow! Sounds Indian!"
-- Paul McCartney

7 May 20157.03am

Ahhh Girl

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Ah, yes, I see that Joe's entry for Love You To says "other musicians" for the sitar and tambura.

George recruited musicians from the Asian Music Circle in Finchley for Within You Without You. I would suggest it's likely that the additional musicians on Love You To were also from the same organisation.

EDIT:
With some further investigation, I found this quote from a 1992 Billboard interview, where George talks about his initial introduction to Indian music (I have only included the end of the quote, as it seems the most pertinent to George's connection to Indian musicians in London):

The only way I could describe it was: my intellect didn't know what was going on and yet this other part of me identified with it. It just called on me ... a few months elapsed and then I met this guy from the Asian Music Circle organisation who said, "Oh, Ravi Shankar's gonna come to my house for dinner. Do you want to come too?"

This does seem to indicate that the Asian Music Circle were his main contact with Indian musicians in London. This, I think, makes it highly likely that when he needed London-based Indian musicians, his first call would have been to them.

The following people thank Ron Nasty for this post:

Ahhh Girl, trcanberra, ewe2

"I only said we were bigger than Rod... and now there's all this!" Ron Nasty

I have to admit, I've come to admire more of Georges sitar style songs over the years. Of course I always considered Norwegian Wood a classic, but that was a Lennon/McCartney composition.

BEATLES Music gives me Eargasms!

30 June 20156.15am

O Boogie

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In India, people usually start learning sitar, veena, and instruments like that very young. So, considering George played the sitar the way he did on Norwegian Wood, without having much knowledge about the instrument or how to play it (at that point), he did a commendable job.

Btw, I've heard that George had an excellent way of getting around to play instruments he had nothing to do with in his life before. I heard he played a violin on "All You Need Is Love" having never picked up a violin before that in his life. Is it true?

For tomorrow may rain, so I'll follow the Sun

30 June 20156.24am

meanmistermustard

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Yip to 'All You Need Is Love'. If you listen to the backing track (in the spoiler below) isolated from 'Rock Band' you can hear him scrapping away (he's playing the parts that make you cower). I think he was trying to beat Paul in a game of who can play an instrument the worst after Paul's trumpet horrors in 'Only A Northern Song'.

Can buy me love

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